HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA--(Marketwire - Nov. 15, 2012) - The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, accompanied by the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Associate Minister of National Defence, Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency) (La Francophonie) and Member of Parliament for Madawaska-Restigouche, General Tom Lawson, Chief of the Defence Staff, and other senior military leaders will award NATO service medals to 210 Canadian Forces (CF) members who served as part of Operation Unified Protector. Media are invited to attend.

WHEN: Friday, November 16, 2012

TIME: 7:45 to 9:30 a.m. AST

WHERE: Canadian Forces Base Halifax, Drill Shed, Building S-14 (enter through the main gate off Gottingen Street at Stadacona).

WHAT: 210 Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force personnel will be presented a NATO Operation Unified Protector (OUP) - Libya medal.

Operation Mobile was the CF's contribution to Operation Unified Protector, a NATO-led effort authorized by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973. Resolution 1973 was implemented to create a Libyan no-fly zone and to take all necessary measures to prevent attacks on civilians by the government forces of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.

Media interested in attending are requested to confirm and arrive on site between 7:00 and 7:30 a.m. AST to accommodate set up and media brief. Please contact Maritime Forces Atlantic Public Affairs Office at 902-427-3766 or at hfx.dutypao@forces.gc.ca.